Definitely an increase in performance with P3Dv3.4

[Jim Young 2,356]

Just completed a flight from FSDT KORD (Chicago) to FlightBeam's KIAD HD (Wash Dulles) and the flight was like night and day in comparison to previous versions of Prepar3D.  I flew the PMDG 777 and had AS16 enabled.  I had Megascenery Ultra Hi-Res scenery enabled for Chicago and in the Wash, Maryland, and Virginia area.  In between I had GEP3D enabled (which has optimized textures).  This was the same scenario for previous flights.  I monitored and logged VAS via the FSUIPC module.  FPS were set at unlimited which is different from flights from previous versions as I had to lock the fps at 30 to maintain smoothness.

 

Previous flights from KORD-KIAD resulted in the amount of VAS to dramatically drop when on final at KIAD, from 1100000 down to 250 - 500 MB's depending on the weather (I had saved the FSUIPC reports but they are no longer there for some reason so much of this is based on memory).  Most flights it was a slide show on arrival and some resulted in OOM's on final or on the taxiway.  In Chicago, there was a lot of stuttering and fps were extremely low until I departed and got out of the Chicago area.  Then fps and vas would start rising again until I reached my destination.  So, bottom line, no fun.  I thought I would have to wait until I upgraded from Haswell to the latest chipset before flying this route again.  But, today, here are the results:

 

Minimum frame rate was 6.5 fps (not sure where this happened as most of the time fps were well above 30 fps), Maximum was 157.5 fps
Minimum available memory recorded was 1204Mb (or 1269872)
Average frame rate for running time of 7489 secs = 39.5 fps
Maximum AI traffic for session was 339 aircraft

 

FPS went dramatically up when out of the PMDG VC and in spot or wing views.  Still, FPS in the VC exceeded 30 fps every time I looked at the fps monitor.  That's HUGE!

 

So I'm really happy with this upgrade and happy to see progress is being made to enhance the usefulness of this simulator.  I hope others are seeing a major performance boost too.

 

Best regards,

Jim

[Manny 1,293]

WOW Jim,.. That is a big Pronouncement Particularly coming from you.

 

I really hope this is true. (Not that I doubt you).

 

But some folks are complaining about worse VAS. Hmmm...

 

PS: What is Poppit's verdict?

[edpatino 1,960]

WOW Jim,.. That is a big Pronouncement Particularly coming from you.

 

I really hope this is true. (Not that I doubt you).

 

But some folks are complaining about worse VAS. Hmmm...

 

PS: What is Poppit's verdict?

 

Glad to hear this from someone like Jim.

Cheers, Ed

[Michael Moe 494]

I only updated the Client as recommended by LM and i also noticed a smoother experience. Cant tell if fps are better as i have it at monitor refresh at 25.

 

Today i desided to try out 372.90 drivers and they seems fine as well.

 

After a Windows system restore my only problem is that in Windows remove programs (uninstall) it still has 3.3.5 listed. 3.4.9 is actually working fine as Client.

 

Michael Moe

[Bobsk8 12,578]

Many on Facebook are experiencing increased VAS with 3.4.  Curious. 

[Jim Young 2,356]

I think most have problems as they use tweaks and high settings.  I used the information from the fsuipc log.  I don't use max settings and my graphics card settings are set to the default for P3D.  Everything is still crisp and clear.  I used most of the settings in Rob's AVSIM P3D Guide but I do not use cloud shadowing and terrain shadows.  Might be good for a screenshot but otherwise it would be difficult to see at FL290.  I still have the shadows for the interior and exterior of my aircraft.

 

As with Michael Moe above, I only updated the Client and perhaps that has something to do with it but still believe modest settings makes flight sessions more enjoyable.

 

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

Best regards,

Jim

[GSalden 4,656]

Here I see no increase in fps ...

[Boomer 1,619]

FPS increase noted here.

[Luis_KMIA 242]

I was going to start a thread on this.  Something definitely happened to improve FPS.  Just did FSDT ORD to FSDT DFW and back with AS2016, ORBXNA, and PMDG 737 and 777.  Minimum FPS in the low 30s on the most dense areas.  

[Guest]

Some see an improvement, some see no change, some see things getting worse... It's always the same with every update. Unless everyone is seeing an increase in fps it's just a local coincidence and it doesn't say much about the update.

[Novation 534]

It's always the same with every update.

Yep. If everyone is saying something different you know all is good :Ying Yang:   

 

If everyone is saying the same bad things, then worry..... no, really, don't touch it :Shame On You: 

 

If everone is saying the same positive things, then a miracle has occured   :Praying: 

 

 

For me? no change

[Bobsk8 12,578]

Yep. If everyone is saying something different you know all is good :Ying Yang:

 

If everyone is saying the same bad things, then worry..... no, really, don't touch it

 

If everone is saying the same positive things, then a miracle has occured 

 

 

For me? no change

 

 

Every upgrade I have installed for  the last year, people have raved about the increased performance with the latest version.  I was flying on a VA at the time which logged FPS for the entire flight. I did the same flight, with the same weather, with each upgrade,   the old version versus the  new version, and never once saw any increase in FPS.  Just sayin.....

[Novation 534]

Just sayin.....

 

This has been generally the case for me, but (and it's a big but) having said that, since P3D v2.0 was released there have been some major graphical advancements added to the platform, and I can run the same basic settings, on the same hardware, with these new features, with no loss of frames. Apart from the VAS disaster with one (2.2 I think?) update, performance and stability has been pretty linear, despite new features being added, so overall things have been good.

[Christopher Low 5,337]

I have not upgraded, but I could swear that my framerates are worse.....

[Jim Young 2,356]

 

 

Unless everyone is seeing an increase in fps it's just a local coincidence and it doesn't say much about the update.

 

You are exactly right!  That's why I indicated in above that I had my graphics card settings set to the default for P3D, turned off cloud shadows, have modest config settings but still get great and crisp graphics, and I use no tweaks.  I should have also stated I do not use the Estonian Tool and all of my add-ons were updated specifically for P3Dv3.4.  The rest of the story is in my specs in my signature.